All expats need to know about healthcare in Denmark

Expats heading to Denmark to take on a new job needn’t worry about healthcare.

Denmark’s healthcare system is reassuringly first-world, both in its expertise and in its supply to expats as well as Danish citizens. All new arrivals need to do is to register their presence in the country, receive their yellow health insurance card and have equal access to modern facilities. The only drawback is that certain procedures aren’t covered by social insurance, meaning private health insurance should also be taken out if there are medical concerns.

The first stop is to register with Denmark’s Civil Registration System office in your local municipality. You’ve a right to choose your own GP from a local list and once you’ve been given your healthcare card you’ll note your chosen GP’s name, address and phone number will be on it for easy reference. As the vast majority of Danes speak English, you’ll not have problems should you need healthcare services. Your doctor’s office works in much the same way as its British equivalent as regards calling first for an appointment unless there’s an emergency. In the case of an emergency likely to be life-threatening, Denmark’s emergency care number is 112, connecting you directly to the ambulance service.

Should you wish to speak urgently with a doctor, 1813 gets you a direct line to the closest hospital emergency room. Stays in hospital are free, with the service funded via taxes. If you need specialist care, first ask your local doctor for a written referral which will be used to ensure your consultation and treatment is covered by your public health insurance. If you’ve decided on private health insurance in addition to your public health coverage, you’ll be able to bypass your doctor and arrange your own specialist-based treatment and care. Similarly to the UK, you’ll need a prescription for most medicines, but the cost is subsidised by the government in a majority of cases. Should you need to spend over DKK850 in any one year, you’ll be partially reimbursed.